We caught up recently with Marie-Claire McDonnell who has recently returned to Ireland having spent 12 years living and working in Toronto to find out more about the ups and downs of returning home.
1. After 12 years living in Toronto, was there a pivotal moment when you were sure it was time to make the move back to Ireland?
We were very happy and settled living in the suburbs of Toronto. My husband (also an Irish accountant) was approached regarding a relocation with his work to their Dublin office. It was a fantastic opportunity for him and a relocation package to your home country is not something that comes up very often. Our three children are still young and we felt it was the right time to move if we were ever going to do it.
2. What was your biggest concern (if any), about moving back and how did you overcome it/them?
I guess the biggest concern is the fear of whether you are making the right decision for everyone in your family. Going from being completely set up in your life after 12 years to starting from complete scratch gets very overwhelming, especially where children are involved. It's important to focus on the reasons for making the move in the first place, the positives of living in Ireland versus abroad.
3. What advice would you give to a member who is at a similar stage?
Preparation is key. Making a list of all the big ticket items that need to be done and working through it with a long lead up time. We had a good six months to prepare before leaving Canada.
It is also really beneficial to speak to people who have made a similar move and understand the pain points and the processes involved for various items. I was lucky to have some friends who made the move back before us who I leaned on for advice.
Finally, what really helped us moving with small children was that I could take unpaid leave for a few months after we arrived to help get everyone settled. It really helped our family with the transition.
4. What do you think you will miss most about Toronto?
We miss our friends a lot – that is the hardest part. We are lucky that Toronto is very accessible from Dublin so we will be back again soon for a visit.
5. What do you appreciate most about being back in Ireland?
We love being closer to family. When you live abroad you spend most of your holidays coming back to Ireland to visit family and friends. There are lots of options in Ireland for mini breaks and also Europe is on our doorstep so we look forward to many years of fun holidays exploring.
6. What is next for you?
I was also very lucky to transfer my role with my employer to their Dublin office. I took the summer off so am now settling back into work and real Irish life!! Our final step is to buy a house which we hope to do in the next year.
Marie-Claire McDonnell on LinkedIn
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